A big-city lawyer was representing(作为……的代表) the railroad(铁路系统) in a lawsuit(诉讼) filed by an old rancher(农场主). The rancher's prize(珍视的) cow was missing from the section through which the railroad passed. The rancher only wanted to be paid the fair value of the cow.
The case was scheduled(预定的) to be tried(审理) before the justice of the peace(治安法官) in the back room of the general store.
The attorney(代理律师) for the railroad immediately cornered(把……逼入困境) the rancher and tried to get him to settle out of court(法庭外私了). The lawyer did his best, and finally the rancher agreed to take half of what he was asking.
After the rancher had signed the release(弃权书) and took the check, the young lawyer couldn't resist gloating(沾沾自喜) a little over his success, telling the rancher, "You know, I hate to tell you this, old man, I couldn't have won the case. The engineer was asleep and the fireman was in the caboose(火车最后的守车) when the train went through your ranch that morning. I didn't have one witness(目击证人) to put on the stand(席). I bluffed(欺骗，虚张声势) you!"
The old rancher replied, "Well, I'll tell you, young feller, I was a little worried about winning that case myself, because that durned cow came home this morning."